Chrysanthemum plant named `Pink View Time`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Pink View Time, characterized by its flat capitulum form; moderately vigorous and tall growth habit; freely branching plant habit; medium decorative-type inflorescences; purple-edged ray florets; numerous inflorescences per plant; and good postproduction longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora and referred to by the cultivar name Pink View Time.

The new cultivar is a spontaneous mutation of the proprietary cultivar View Time. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor in Havant, Hampshire, United Kingdom, as a single plant among a population of plants of the cultivar View Time. This single plant consistently formed inflorescences having purple-edged ray florets compared to the pure white ray florets of plants of the cultivar View Time.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Havant, Hampshire, United Kingdom, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of Pink View Time. These characteristics in combination distinguish Pink View time as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Moderately vigorous and tall growth habit.

3. Freely branching plant habit.

4. Medium decorative-type inflorescences.

5. Purple-edged ray florets.

6. Numerous inflorescences per plant.

7. Good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining good substance and color for more than 18 days in an interior environment.

The cultivar Pink View Time has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are similar to the mutation parent cultivar View Time in plant habit and growth rate. However in side-by-side comparisons in Oxnard, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar View Time in that the ray floret edges of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are purple (80B/80C) whereas the ray florets of plants of the cultivar View Time are pure white (155D).

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering 16.5-cm container of Pink View Time with five cuttings in the container and the terminal inflorescences removed (center-budded pot Chrysanthemum).

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Oxnard, Calif., under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse with average night temperatures of 18° C., average day temperatures of 30° C., and light levels of 2,000 (cloudy conditions) to 9,000 (sunny conditions) footcandles.

After sticking unrooted cuttings of the new cultivar, plants received 21 long day/short nights followed by short day/long nights until flowering. Three weeks after the start of the short day/long night treatment, plants received three weekly spray applications of daminozide growth retardant at a rate of 3,750 ppm. Measurements and numerical values represent ranges or averages for six typical flowering plants.

Botanical classification: Dendranthema grandiflora cultivar Pink View Time.

Commercial Classification: Decorative potted chrysanthemum.

Parentage: Spontaneous mutation of Dendranthema grandiflora cultivar View Time.

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to rooting.--7 to 10 days with soil temperatures of 21° C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Perennial herbaceous decorative potted plant. Stems upright, uniform habit and freely branching. Moderately vigorous and tall growth habit.

Plant height.--About 27 cm.

Lateral branch length.--19 to 24 cm.

Quantity of lateral branches after removal of apical meristem.--About 4.5.

Stem color.--147B.

Foliage description.--Number of leaves per lateral branch: 17 to 18. Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Leaf size, fully expanded: Length: About 8 cm. Width: About 4.5 cm. Leaf apex: Acuminate. Leaf base: Attenuate. Leaf margin: Palmately lobed. Leaf texture: Upper and under surfaces slightly pubescent, smooth and dull. Veins prominent on under surface. Petiole length: About 2 cm. Color: Young foliage upper surface: 147A. Young foliage under surface: 147B. Fully expanded foliage upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded foliage under surface: 147B. Venation upper surface: 147B. Venation under surface: 147B. Petiole: 147A.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Decorative inflorescence form. Inflorescences borne on terminals above foliage, arising from leaf axils. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on a flat capitulum.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plants flower in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed to 2 to 3 weeks of long day/short night conditions after sticking followed by photoinductive short day/long night conditions, flower about 59 to 61 days later.

Postproduction longevity.--In an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage of flowering plants will maintain good color and substance for at least 18 days in an interior environment.

Quantity of inflorescences.--About 6 inflorescences per flowering stem.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: About 8 cm. Depth (height): about 2.2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 3 mm.

Ray florets.--Shape: Long, rounded, wide. Size: Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Apex: Rounded. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Satiny, smooth and glabrous. Aspect: Flat. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 160. Color: When opening, upper surface: Edges: 80B. Interior: 155D. When opening, under surface: Edges: 80B. Interior: 155D. Mature, upper surface: Edges: 80C, fading to 155D with subsequent development. Interior: 155D. Mature, under surface: 155D.

Disc florets.--Shape: Tubular. Size: Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 10. Color: Immature: 154A. Mature: 12A.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Strong and angled about 30° to the stem. Length: About 7.5 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 147B.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anther color: 12A. Pollen: Moderate, 12A in color. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Style color: 154A.

Disease resistance: No known Chrysanthemum diseases observed to date on plants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Pink View Time, as illustrated and described. 